Miscellaneous Thoughts On Dentistry And Biotechnology

Category Archives: Dentistry

Dental Excellence, a firm based in Garston, is responsible for the sparkling smiles seen in Liverpool FC’s players and staff. Founder Robbie Hughes has revealed the practice is funneled more towards cosmetic dentistry – a domain largely considered to be costly.

The 33-year-old points out that the still-prevalent general perception about dentistry undertakings is that they must entail some form of pain and anxiety. He says that’s a key concern he’s adequately addressed by tailoring everything at his firm on the aesthetic perspective, from the set-up itself all the way to the journey alongside the dentist. The approach, besides instilling patient confidence, has since seen a host of football players including Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane visiting the premises.

When asked about the relatively expensive take, Robbie was quick to dispel the notion around it. He mentions that even though he’s for the most part catered for celebrities, there are still packages for everyone; ranging from the simple ones like teeth bleaching and veneering which are conducted within an hour, to the more complex ones like full mouth reconstruction.

Robbie has also revealed they’ve opened a new division in The Matchworks which is also tailored to offer a luxurious experience for patients and celebrities alike.

Scientists in Japan have in a first-of-its-kind project employed micro-bubbles to get rid of dental plaque on dental implants.

Tooth loss has since time immemorial been known to be causing an array of inconveniences, irrespective of the cause. Dental implants, however, have emerged in recent times to address that concern and in turn, yield a better patient outcome. But just like normal teeth, the implants are also prone to complications especially without proper care and oral hygiene. In a case where dental plaque develops on the crown, for instance, the infection often spreads to the fixture insertions, making it particularly difficult to clean these areas because they contain microgrooves which most importantly enhance the fixation on the jaw bones. This limitation is what partly inspired the subject project.

Lead author Professor Hitoshi Soyama says they first thought of discerning the efficacy of a cavitating jet, wherein the high-speed fluid is injected by a nozzle through the water to produce minute bubbles of vapor. The bursting of these bubbles is what generates strong shockwaves capable of driving out contaminants. They then thought of comparing the feat’s functionality to that of the conventionally-used water jet, specifically via an experiment involving four volunteers who had biofilm grown in them. Ultimately, the cavitating jet was found to be more efficient, and even better, it did not only cater to plaque present in the root section of screws, but also to that in the almost inaccessible crest section.

A key concern that has puzzled specialists in the dentistry sphere is why some individuals may be prone to dental erosion while others are not, despite similar drinking and eating habits. But now researchers from Oslo University’s Dentistry Division have attempted to decipher this aspect.

Ph.D. candidate Marte-Mari Uhlen, in her doctoral project, has pointed out that even though numerous studies have shown dental erosion is more likely to occur in persons exposed to high acid levels, the case might be an attribute of something more than that. This insight was yielded after conducting a study on sixty-six subjects with eating disorders. Besides the clinical examination part of it, the expedition further entailed a questionnaire-based survey to discern details on participants’ overall health, oral hygiene habits, eating and drinking habits, as well as the ailment’s duration. Even though two-thirds of participants found with dental erosion had the disease for a relatively longer time span, a third of them surprisingly had no signs of the same; with some in this group has suffered from the illness for up to 32 years.

A follow-up on the finding was conducted to assess whether the oral environment coupled with the teeth’s enamel played a role. What ultimately surfaced was that the quality of enamel and the oral setting, partly dependent on a person’s genetics, partly dictated susceptibility to dental erosion.

We all have seen how traditional braces are plain unsightly on their users. But besides this concern, they are also known for their uneasiness (stemming from their metal make-up), and can further cause an array of complications, all of which may warrant lengthy treatment procedures.

Nonetheless, there’s a novel advancement that’s been crafted to specifically address the concern above. Going by the name Invisalign, the implement is tailor-made to snugly fit one’s smile, and more importantly, it’s nearly invisible therefore more aesthetically pleasing than its conventional counterparts. Invisalign’s make-up consists of proprietary, multi-layer SmartTrack material which gradually positions the teeth into place according to a custom mapping devised by a dentist. The feat also autonomously exerts the most optimal force, and at the most suitable time.

Invisalign has so far garnered widespread acclaim in the US dental sphere since its initial roll-out, while also generating interest amongst dental experts across the globe. Align technology, the umbrella behind the Invisalign brand, mentions the technology has seen well over three million users, with more than eighty thousand dentists being tutored on its application. The organization nonetheless notes it’s yet to garner recognition as an effective alternative to traditional braces. Why is that? Well, as it is with almost all new methods in the healthcare domain, adaptation remains a key hurdle.

A dental implant refers to a minute titanium fixture that takes the place of a missing tooth’s framework and supports a dental prosthesis. A denture, on the other hand, is a removable plate/frame holding one or more artificial teeth. The former’s use has in recent times surged with novel field advancements including digital imagery, 3D CAD/CAM applications, ceramic restoration, milling machines, and computer tomography; all of which have brought in improved precision. So presented below are a few reasons why dental implants are the best option.

Strengthening the jawbone – Oral specialists have in previous studies revealed that a jawbone’s firm positioning is partly a result of deeply-rooted teeth. Therefore, when a tooth is rid of its root, either from carries or by accident, not replacing the void will gradually make the jawbone weaker and more fragile.

Bone stimulation and growth – Titanium is a compound that easily fuses with the jawbone and firmly holds a prosthesis in place. Without root structures aligning from natural teeth, a jawbone can, in fact, shrink in turn cause a facial deformity.

Perfect fit – Wearers of dental bridges/dentures will often be heard complaining of a poor fit, sliding, sores, facial changes, and unpleasant food restrictions — concerns that remain out of reach with implant utility.

Colgate has unveiled its first, AI equipped electric toothbrush in the US market. Available on Apple.com and in select Apple Stores, the feat most importantly provides real-time feedback on a user’s brushing to in turn facilitate better oral health. Colgate has revealed they’ll continue utilizing Apple’s ResearchKit in obtaining invaluable, crowd-sourced data for future relative innovations.

Patricia Verduin, chief technology officer at Colgate-Palmolive franchise, says the product’s main motive is to have people brushing teeth at the most optimum levels. She further notes the roll-out is also meant to yield an understanding of consumers’ brushing habits: the first step towards improving the subject activity.

The novel Colgate Smart E1 will ensure oral concerns including dental carries are curbed before their onset. Devised in a collaborative effort with dentists, the implement features real-time sensors and AI algorithms to discern brushing effectiveness in the sixteen oral zones. It’s also embedded with Bluetooth connectivity frameworks and sonic vibrating technology. Its related application bears a 3D brushing coach to instill an oral care routine and is also coupled with Apple ResearchKit to garner brushing info, but with a user’s permission. Verduin regards the latter collaborative take as a testament to Colgate’s zeal of creating solutions that will enable people to monitor their health and wellness.

Dental practices across the globe are continually striving to create a set-up that works best for the workforce and patients alike. While an array of takes are funneled into this strategy, there’s always a key feature that remains prevalent: novel innovations. Technological advancements are transcending dental procedures into simpler and more cost-effective takes, while also ensuring patients are subjected to less stressful experiences. Presented are some of 2017’s outstanding ones.
The Picasso AMD laser
The Picasso laser is a relatively affordable option for many practitioners around the world. It’s been highly acclaimed as a user-friendly device facilitating periodontal treatments, implant repair, gingival troughing, and much more.
Improved DentiMax Dream Sensor System
The improved form of this sensor device is embedded with a tougher plate to withstand situations that could make it wear and tear, like for example falling down or being bitten by a patient. It also has a hard-wearing Kevlar-covered cord. Dentimax co-founder David Arnett says not even a single failure complaint has been filed since effecting the two aspects. The system’s imaging component has also been beefed-up to now feature less pixelation.
Sonicare DiamondClean Smart Toothbrush and App
Sonicare had previously rolled out chewable red tablets which specifically pinpointed areas that needed more attention when brushing. They’ve now unveiled an electric brush that is coupled with an app to perform the aforementioned role, while also enabling monitoring of a user’s cleaning progress.
Referencehttp://exclusive.multibriefs.com/content/the-best-dental-innovations-of-2017/oral-dental-healthcare